Slip-setting device for oil well elevators



Feb. 13, 1968 s. w. MEEK, SR 3,368,252

SLIP-SETTING DEVICE FOR OIL WELL ELEVATORS I Filed Oct. 10, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

MARCUS L. BATES .SAMUEL W. MEEK, SR.

Feb. 13 1968 s. w. MEEK, SR

SLIP-SETTING DEVICE FOR OIL WELL ELEVATORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1966 INVENTOR.

SAMUEL W. MEEK, SR. BY

MARCUS L. BATES Filed Oct. 10, 1966 Feb. 13, 1968 s. w. MEEK, SR 3,368,252

SLIP'SETTING DEVICE FOR OIL WELL ELEVATORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7

Fla 9 INVENTOR. SAMUEL w. MEEK, SR. BY

MARCUS L. BATES United States Patent 3,368,252 SLIP-SETTING DEVICE FOR OIL WELL ELEVATORS Samuel W. Meek, Sn, Odessa, Tex. (1312 Kcudlewood, McAllen, Tex. 78501) Filed Oct. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 585,443 8 Claims. (Cl. 24-263) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved slip-setting device for use in conjunction with the slips of an oil well elevator. The slip setting device is comprised of a wafer like element having a pipe receiving inside peripheral surface. The slip setting device is superimposed above the slips of the elevator whereupon a pipe placed within the elevator will contact the slip setting device which in turn positively sets the slip against the pipe until the pipe is lifted in an upward direction, thereby releasing the slips from the pipe. The slip setting device includes a plastic main body having a reinforcing plate rigidly molded therein with the reinforcing plate having an inside peripheral surface which presents a wearing edge portion to the pipe. One embodiment of the slip setting device is di-sected into two elements wherein one of the elements provide a guide means for initially receiving and aligning the pipe with the elevator.

Slips, and the elevator that forms the housing therefor, are generally known within the oil industry. The purpose of the elevator is to provide a body, or housing means, for the slips, in addition to lifting means whereby the elevator may be lifted by a cable attached to a pulley in the top of the drilling rig or work-over unit so as to enable a prime mover located on the ground level to move the elevator in a vertical direction when it is desired to remove or replace tubing, pipes, or easing into or from the well or bore hole. The slips associated with the elevator include a high-friction faced or toothed surface adapted to engage the tubing in high friction relationship therewith so as to enable the elevator to vertically move the pipe with respect to the bore hole when the slips are properly set against the pipe.

The slips have a wedge-shaped surface opposite the high friction face that rides and slides against a complimentary surface forming part of the main body of the elevator. The slips are generally spring loaded and provided with guide means so as to prevent movement of the slips with respect to the elevator except in a generally vertical direction. Upon the friction face of the slips engaging the outside peripheral surface of a pipe, the friction exerted between the pipe and the slips causes movement of the slips in a downward direction with also causes the action of the wedge between the slip and the elevator to exert a radial force against the pipe in accordance with and in direct proportion to the weight of the pipe. Stated differently, the slip has a wedge like shape that is fitted into a complementary body of the elevator so as to change longitudinal motion of the slip into radial motion to thereby allow the friction face to grip the pipe with a force that is in direct proportion to the downward thrust placed upon the wedge-shaped component of the slip.

Pipes, tubing, casing, and the like that are associated with a bore hole, such as an oil well, will hereinafter be referred to as pipe" or string of pipe. These elements generally are joined together by a coupling and have an upset end near the coupling member that constitutes an enlarged end-portion of the pipe. It is desirable for the slips that provide the lifting means for the pipe to posi- 3,368,252 Patented Feb. 13, 1968 tively engage the outside peripheral surface of the pipe, and once engaged it is of the upmost importance that the stringof pipe remain firmly gripped by the jaws of the slips and not be allowed to move relative to the elevator. For example, when coming out of the bore hole the elevator may be carrying a long string of pipes. Should this pipe string slip or move relative to the slips within the elevator, the tremendous weight of the string of pipe will thereby gain sufiicient momentum so that should the jaws again contact the coupling or upset portion of the pipe, separation of the string of pipe may occur upon such an attempt to arrest motion, thereby allowing the entire string of pipe to be dropped into the bore hole. Such an occurrence is a catastrophic event in the oil field. Should the string of pipe fail to separate upon the occurrence of such relative motion, expensive drill pipe may be crushed thereby requiring replacement, or the elevators may be severely damaged requiring replacement.

It is therefore desirable to provide the slips associated with an elevator with positive means by which the slips are securely set upon engaging the pipe.

It is further desirable that the slips associated with an elevator be provided with slip-setting means that is simple in operation, positive in action, easily replaceable, and low in cost.

Another desirable attribute of an oil well elevator is the inclusion of a slip-setting device that requires a minimum of moving parts, so as to simplify the overall operation of the elevator, as well as eliminating potential junk that may fall into the bore hole.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide the slips associated with an oil field elevator with a slipsetting device having the above desirable attributes while at the same time overcoming many of the defects of the prior art.

Another object of this invention is to provide the slips of an oil field elevator with a slip-setttng device that includes a binary apparatus comprised of essentially only two moving parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide an oil field elevator with a slip-setting device that is positive in action, low in cost, and easily replaceable.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a slip-setting device for use in conjunction with a set of slips located within an oil field elevator that cooperates with the elevator and the upset portion of a pipe in a manner to eliminate a number of parts that have heretofore been deemed necessary in similar devices of the prior art.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an oil field elevator with a set of slip-setting means that is fabricated from a synthetic plastic and includes a reinforcing plate integrally molded therewithin so as to provide a slip-setting device comprised of a minimum number of parts.

The above objects are attained in accordance with this invention by the provision of a split plastic wafer that is suitably apertured so as to receive bolts therethrough that maintain the slip setting device properly orientated with respect to the slips of the elevator, and wherein there is additionally provided a perforated plate integrally molded within the plastic wafer so as to provide a hardened face where the wafer contacts the tubing.

Further objects that inherently flow from this invention will become apparent from studying the remainder of this disclosure.

Looking now to the various figures of the drawings, wherein the several embodiments of my invention are set forth in detail so as to enable others skilled in the art to carry my invention into practice in accordance with the statutes, it is seen that:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional oil field elevator in opened or pipe receiving position and showing the operative relationship of a conventional set of slips with respect to the main body of the elevator and further including one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a slip-setting device made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2 in order to disclose additional details of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a reinforcing plate that forms a part of the inventive concept.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged top plan view of a slip-setting device with parts broken away so as to more clearly illustrate the inside of the device.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged top plan view of another form of the invention with some parts broken away and other parts removed so as to more clearly illustrate the various components of the invention.

FIGURE 8 is another enlarged top plan view of part of the device that is made in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention.

FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 9-9 of FIGURE 8, and

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view showing the operative relationship of the device of FIGURE 7 with a set of slips and an oil well elevator, but with the device of FIG- URE 7 illustrated as being substantially reduced in size.

Referring now in greater detail to FIGURE 1 in conjunction with the remaining figures, there is seen illustrated therein an oil-field elevator 12 that is adapted to lift a string of pipe and the like from a bore hole in the ground. The elevator includes a main bowl-shaped housing or body 14 that cooperates with a multiplicity of slips, the face of one being illustrated by the numeral 16. The slips 16 have a high friction face on the inside peripheral pipe contacting surface thereof and an outwardly inclined or wedge shaped surface on the side opposite that cooperates with the body portion 14 in a wedge-like manner so that relative slidable movement in a vertical direction between the slip 16 and the body 14 along the contact surfaces or interface 18 permits downward motion of the slip 16 to thereby eifect movement of the friction face 16 radially inwardly with respect to the pipe and elevator, thus engaging the pipe with a force that is proportional to the downward thrust of the slips.

The elevator is provided with a hinged assembly 20 that permits each half of the elevator to be opened with respect to each other when pivoted thereabout upon the latch 22 and 23 being released. Handles 24 and 25 are associated with the before mentioned latch means in a manner that when the handles 24 and 25 are pulled apart, the latch means open or release, thereby pivoting each half of the elevator in opposite directions about the hinge 20. A stop means 26 is removably attached to part of the structure forming the hinge means and protrudes toward and overlays a portion of the slips in the illustrated manner of FIGURE 1 so as to provide an abutment means that positions a pipe in aligned relationship with respect to the central axis or pipe receiving area of the elevator.

The slip-setting means includes elements 30 and 32 that are operatively positioned and held in overlaying relationship with respect to the slips by first, second, third, and fourth bolts, respectively, as indicated by numerals 33, 34, 35, and 36 respectively.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate a slip setting device 40 comprised of a first element 41 and a second element 42 each including an inside peripheral surface 43 and provided with spaced apart apertures 44. The first and second elements, when joined together, form a wafer, but are advantageously split or separated along a first cut 45 and a second cut 46 to thereby form the completed elements of the slip-setting device 40. A metal reinforcing plate 47 having a hardened face 48 and suitably apertured as at 49 is rigidly molded within and forms an integral part of the slip-setting device 40. The plastic that forms the main body of this slip-setting device fills the aperture at 49 to thereby rigidly anchor the reinforcing plate within the main body of the slip-setting device, thereby allowing the hardened face 48 of the reinforcing plate to be exposed whereby it can wipe the outside surface of a pipe when suitably engaged therewith.

The inside peripheral surface of the wafer-like slipsetting device is adapted to engage the pipe with a wiping action, and upon engaging the upset portion or enlargement of the pipe, the device forces the slip segments into engagement with the pipe surface.

The metal reinforcing plate 47 may be eliminated under some conditions of usage where wear is secondary, provided that the split plastic wafer is of a chemical composition that will inherently maintain the original molded form.

Looking now to the details of FIGURES 4 through 6 there is seen illustrated therein a metal reinforcing plate comprised of two semi-circular or C-shaped metal plates 53 and 53' that are made into a suitable configuration whereby they may be molded within the plastic slip-setting device 51. The slip-setting device is comprised of a first half 51 and a second half 52 into which there is integrally molded the before mentioned metallic reinforcing plates 53. The slip-setting device is suitably apertured at spaced apart positions along its marginal edge in order to receive a resilient bushing 54. The device is bisected into the before mentioned first and second semi-circular elements 51 and 52 by sawing it apart in the illustrated manner to thereby form the radially extended edge portions forming the depending ends 56 and 57 of the first element 51 and the depending ends 56' and 57 of the second element 52. The before mentioned spaced apart vertically aligned apertures have an inside wall 58 that suitably receives the before mentioned resilient bushing 54 in close tolerance relationship therewith. The metal plates 53 and 53' are provided with spaced apart cut-outs generally indicated by the numeral at 59 that defines the outside perimeter of the aperture 58. The reinforcing plate is further apertured as indicated at 60 to thereby provide a multiplicity of passageways through which the plastic forming the major body portion of the assembly may be extruded or may communicate therethrough so as to rigidly lock the metal plate therewithin and accordingly become an integral part thereof during the molding process of the device.

The completed slip-setting device is seen to include bolt receiving holes 62, and a pipe receiving surface 64, as well as a hardened metallic surface 66 that also abuts the pipe. Hence the slip-setting device is comprised 'of a first half 51 and a second half 52 that forms the major body portion and includes the before mentioned pre-fabricated first and second metallic reinforcing plates 53 and 53' that are suitably molded within the main body portion and subsequently provided with resilient bushings 54 that are press fitted or inserted into the spaced apart apertures 58 that have been previously molded in a manner to extend diametrically through the body thereby providing the bolt holes 62 that maintain the entire slipsetting assembly properly aligned with respect to the slip segments that may be located therebelow.

Looking now to the details of FIGURE 7, there is seen still another embodiment, in many respects similar to the embodiment of FIGURES 4 to 6, and wherein numerals such as 154 of FIGURE 7 corresponds to numeral 54 of FIGURES 4, 5, and 6, for example. The slip-setting device, generally indicated by the arrow at numeral 150, includes a first C-shaped element 151 and a second C-sha-ped element 152 having a bisectin g off-set cut that has been sa-wed in a manner to form depending edge portions 156 and 157 associated with the first C-shaped element 151, and depending edge portions 156' and 157 forming the depending ends of the C-shaped element 152. The cut or saw line forming edge portions 156 and 157 is parallel to an imaginary line located along the centers of bushings 154 of its associate element 152. This bisecting cut it also tangential to a circle having a mid-point that lies off-center of but within the pipe receiving aperture. The second cut defining edge portions 156' and 157 are oppositely disposed from the first recited cut as amply illustrated in FIGURE 7 and accordingly is also substantially parallel to a line drawn through the centers of the rubber bushing 154 of the C-sh-aped element 151.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a modification of the reinforcing metallic plate previously discussed in conjunction with the foregoing embodiments, wherein upstanding pins 260 are rigidly provided in the before mentioned apertures 60. As best seen in FIGURE 8 in conjunction with FIG- URE 9, the upstanding pins are placed through vertically drilled apertures so as to form anchor means in conjunction with the plastic material of the main body of the slip-setting device. Where it is deemed desirable, alternate pins 260 may be eliminated so as to provide the resilient plate with both pins and apertures to thereby rigidly hold the plate as an integral part of the slip-setting device.

FIGURE 10 is another illustration showing the operative relationship between one of the foregoing embodiments of the slip-setting device, generally indicated by the arrow at numeral 251, and the elevator. The slipsetting device includes a first C-shaped half 251 superimposed above and in abutting relationship to the slip segments. Bolts 135 and 136 are received through the before mentioned resilient means of the slip-setting device and secures the first C-shaped half of the device to a pair of spaced apart slip segments located therebelow. The bolts 135 and 136 correspond to the bolts 35 and 36 of FIG- URE l. The remaining half 252 of the slip-setting device is secured in a similar superimposed manner to a pair of spaced apart slip segments by the bolts 133 and 134 which correspond generally to the bolts 33 and 34 'of FIGURE 1. The first half of the slip-setting device is positioned with respect to the hinge so as to position area 50 of the pipe receiving or engaging side of the device in the illustrated manner whereby the abutment means or positioning means 26 as seen in FIGURE 1 may be completely eliminated. Hence the pipe that is to be lifted by the elevator illustrated in FIGURE 10 Will now be properly positioned by the overhanging portion indicated generally by the arrow at numeral 50 rather than the abutment means seen at 26 in FIGURE 1.

In manufacturing the device illustrated by the above several embodiments, the reinforcing plate is prefabricated into a continuous disk and molded into an uncut or unitary wafer or slip-setting device by suitably suspending the plate in the mold cavity. The cut-outs, such as indicated by the numeral 59 of FIGURE 4, for example, are properly positioned adjacent that portion of the mold that is adapted to form the apertures 58. After removing the device from the mold, the unitary wafer may be cut into the configuration of either FIGURES 2, 5, or 7 by suitably aligning the apertures 58 that have been previously formed during the molding process in a jig to provide an indexed relationship for properly positioning the cutting lines 56 and 57, for example. After the device has been properly cut into the desired configuration, the bushings 54 or 154 are then press fitted into the apertures 58.

The main body of the slip-setting device is preferably molded from polyurethane, however; it is contemplated that any thermo-setting or thermo-plastic organic resin, including Nylon and Teflon may be used while still remaining in the scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the body 40 of FIGURE 2, for example, can be cast from metal to provide the first and sec- 0nd elements, 41 and 42 respectively, and still remain within the teachings of this invention.

In operation, each half of the slip-setting device is resiliently secured in superimposed relationship with respect to its corresponding slip segments by the before mentioned resilient bushings and bolts. When the elevator is properly positioned about a pipe, and lifted in an upward direction, the inside peripheral surface of the slipsetting device will wipe or ride along the outside surface of the pipe until it abuts the upset portion thereof, thereby forcing the slip segments in a downward direction. Upon downward movement of the slip segments with respect to the Wedge shaped bowl 14, the slip segments are forced radially inwardly an amount sufficient to engage the outside peripheral surface of a pipe. The resilient bushing, 154 for example, permits the bolts, for example, to move the required distance radially inwardly, toward the pipe, for proper engagement of the slips with the pipe. The hardened surface presented by the inside diameter of the metallic plate greatly increases the life of the slip-setting device while at the same time the perforated plate prevents distortion of the main plastic body of the wafer.

The slip-setting device of the instant invention eliminates a number of moving parts that have heretofore been required in similar devices of the prior art. Since the completed slip-setting device is comprised of a single bisected wafer having resilient bushings therein, should the elevator become damaged through negligence of operation, causing the slip-setting device to become severely injured, there are no metallic parts that may become dislodged and consequently fall into the bore hole. Hence the instant invention sets the slips associated with an elevator in an improved and more eflicient manner, is more economical to fabricate, provides the dual function of both positioning the pipe within the pipe receiving aperture as well as setting the slip, and furthermore eliminates some of the hazards of dropping junk into the bore hole. While I have shown several different embodiments of my slip-setting device and have illustrated the manner in which my improved slip-setting device may be used in conjunction with elevators of the past art, it will occur to others who are skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements may be carried out upon my device, while at the same time remaining within the spirit and the scope of my invention. Therefore the rnetes and bounds of the intellectual property that I deem to be mine should be considered as outlined in the following appended claims rather than in the above descriptive but limiting portion of this patent application.

I claim:

1. In an oil well elevator having a series of radially disposed slip segments slidably arranged for vertical movement against a wedge shaped bowl therein, and including guide means and resilient means for maintaining the slip segments vertically aligned and upwardly biased with respect to the elevator, the improvement comprising:

a slip-setting device superimposed above the set of slips and including a main body portion having an outside peripheral edge portion, means forming a centrally located pipe receiving aperture, an upper face, and a lower face, with said lower face abutting the slip segments;

said slipsetting device includes a main plastic body having a metal reinforcing plate therein, said reinforcing plate includes a marginal edge portion having means forming semi-circular cut-outs that form the inside peripheral surface of said spaced apart apertures;

said main body portion including means bisecting said slip-setting device into a first element and a second element to enable a pipe to be received by said pipe receiving aperture;

means forming spaced apart apertures in each said element;

said apertures overlying spaced apart slip segments and adapted to receive a fastening means therethrough for securing each said element to the spaced apart segments.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein:

said means bisecting said slip-setting device forms depending edge portions that lie along a line extending radially from the center of said pipe receiving aperture to thereby form an included angle less than one hundred and eighty degrees, whereby the larger of the elements is adapted to centrally align the pipe with the elevator.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said plate includes means forming a multiplicity of holes therein formed perpendicularly with respect to the horizontal surface thereof, to enable plastic from said main body to fill the holes to thereby rigidly hold the plate within the main body.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein:

said means bisecting said slip-setting device provides each said element with depending edge portions that lie in a substantially straight line and wherein one depending edge portion of one said element is located closer to the nearest adjacent said spaced apart aperture than the remaining .said edge portion with respect to its nearest adjacent bolt hole, to thereby enable a portion of said pipe receiving aperture to centrally align the pipe with the elevator.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

said means bisecting said slip-setting device into two elements provides each .said element with depending edge portions with one said edge portion lying along a line drawn tangentially from a point within said pipe receiving aperture, and wherein said point lies between the center line of the pipe receiving aperture and the inside peripheral pipe contacting surface of said device;

and wherein the remaining edge portion is similarly located in opposed relationship to said first edge portion.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said slip-setting device includes a C-shaped portion on the inside peripheral surface of said pipe receiving aperture that is adapted to cooperate with the pipe to thereby centrally align the pipe with the elevator.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein:

said slip-setting device includes resilient bushings within said spaced apart apertures.

8. In an oil Well elevator having a series of radially disposed slip segments slidably arranged for vertical movement against a wedge shaped bowl therein, and including guide means and resilient means for maintaining the slip segments vertically aligned and upwardly biased with respect to the elevator, the improvement comprising:

a slip-setting device superimposed above the set of slips and including a main body portion having an outside peripheral edge portion, means forming a centrally located pipe receiving aperture, an upper face, and a lower face, with said lower face abutting the slip segments;

said slip-setting device includes a main plastic body having a reinforcing plate molded therein;

said reinforcing plate having means forming a centrally located pipe receiving aperture having a radius aligned with and substantially equal to the radius of said pipe receiving aperture of said main body; whereby:

said reinforcing plate presents a Wearing surface as the pipe contacts the slip setting device;

said main body portion including means bisecting said slip-setting device into a first element and a second element to enable a pipe to be received by said pipe receiving aperture;

means forming spaced apart apertures in each said element;

said apertures overlying spaced apart slip segments and adapted to receive a fastening means therethrough for securing each said element to the spaced apart segments.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,009,998 11/1911 Savoic.

1,664,461 4/ 1928 Montgomery.

2,289,696 7/ 1942 Cailloux.

2,493,556 1/1950 Stone 285146 3,032,366 5/1962 Meek 294-102 3,140,523 7/ 1964 Taylor 24-2635 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner. 

